CD Reviews

A must have for all music fans.

david_romero83@hotmail.com | UT. America | 01/04/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Definetely a CLASSIC Horner. This CD ranked in the top ten most sought after soundtracks and wasn't even available for under $200. until P.E.G. Records finally released it to the public for the regular CD price and with the original track listing. In my opinion, the most beautiful score Horner has ever written(not necissarily the best but close.) There are 7 themes!( some of them are sort of subthemes.) The themes (particularly the main theme)are very sweeping melodies with a hint of sadness in each one. Track 3(The chase)is a very exiting and thematical at the same time while Rose's Death and Sad goodbies are sure to bring tears to your eyes. The best track is "First Tears", combining about three of the best themes including a dramatic swirling horn theme and the "Sad Goodbies/Rose's Death" theme all leading up to a beautiful climax of the main theme. Those beautiful swirling horns that we've come to know Horner for(and which I mentioned earlier)also can be heard throughout the CD as a subtheme that gives the score a certain dramatic character. This gorgeous piece of work is surpassed only by "Krull" and "Star Trek II" in my list of Horner favorites. No music fan(especially of James Horner) can afford to miss this all time classic."

Horner Hatches A Cocoon

Luis M. Ramos | Caracas, Venezuela | 02/15/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is an interesting work from James Horner; one of the first in which he tries to touch the listener's feelings. He somewhat succeeds, especially if you get to hear tracks like 'Rose's Death', 'Returning To The Sea', 'First Tears', and 'Sad Goodbyes'.
There are also epic and mysterious moments when you hear 'Through The Window', 'The Lovemaking', and 'The Ascension'. Let's not forget that there are also nice and funny moments, especially when the music focuses on the elder characters on the movie -like 'Discovered In The Poolhouse' and 'The Boys Are Out', an excellent piece of music orchestrated by the late Billy May (of the "Batman" and "The Green Hornet" fame), an expert on jazz and that kind of music which was very popular in the 50s and 60s.
But the lowdown of this album is the action piece 'The Chase' because, in spite of being very well orchestrated (by John Williams' former orchestrator, the late Herbert Spencer), it contains a movement which is exactly the same as the one heard in 'Genesis Countdown' from "Star Trek II-The Wrath Of Khan". And hell, whose idea was it to include the Michael Sembello song 'Gravity' in the movie, and even in this soundtrack? Definitely bad taste.
In general, this is a good album that could have been better, and this is proof that James Horner always looks for ways to get to the right emotions, no matter how repetitive he gets."